Facilities like the Grande Prairie Care Centre will be restricted from in-person visitors for the time being (Photo: Shaun Penner)

By Shaun Penner

Visitor Restrictions

Visitors barred for continuing care centres across Alberta

Apr 7, 2020 | 12:04 PM

Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, has ordered a ban on all visitors to all long term-care centres, licensed group homes and other facilities, as they continue to try and limit the spread to those most vulnerable to COVID-19.

“Residents of all continuing care sites are at extreme risk if exposed to COVID-19, and we are doing everything possible to ensure their safety.,” said Dr. Hinshaw in a release. “I know this will have a profound impact on the lives of those residents and their families; this is not a step that we take lightly.”

“I’m asking all Albertans to reach out and support their loved ones through the phone, video and any other means possible.”

These new restrictions apply to all licensed supportive living, long-term care and other continuing care facilities in the province. All residential addiction treatment operators licensed under the Mental Health Services Protection Act are also restricted from having in-person visitors at this time.

The only exceptions noted by the province where a visitor would be allowed, is if a resident of one of those facilities is dying, or if the visitor is an essential provider of care that staff at the facility cannot help with.

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In the case of visitors, family and friends, as well as religious leaders, may visit a resident who is dying. They can enter one at a time and must undergo a health screening before they can enter. They must also not come in contact with any other resident of the facility during their visit.

This announcement lines up with the province’s announcement back on Friday that stated that in-person visitors to hospitals and other AHS acute care centres were banned with few exceptions.

As of April 6, 112 confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in continuing care facilities across Alberta.